Base Running Youth Baseball | Base running might be the most important part of youth baseball
Coaches often avoid base running because it might seem boring, but usually coaches don’t totally understand how to teach base running . But if you think about it, base running is critical to winning games – the goal of a baseball game is to score runs, and base running is the means by which we do that.
So here are some youth baseball base running tips to help you get your team running and thinking about how to run the bases the right way.
Contact – Getting out of the Box/ Run Thru First
Whether you’ve tapped one off the end of the bat or raked a hard line drive down the line, your first goal is always to get out of that batter’s box in a hurry. There’s no excuse for not hustling, so run hard down the first base line.
1) If it's a dribbler or or a play can be made by the defense ..run as hard as you can to first base , stepping on the bag on the side closest to home plate, and do your best to beat the defense.
If it’s a solid base hit, run hard and move gradually into foul territory in order to make a smooth turn at first base. Whatever you do, don’t get caught watching the ball for too long – that only slows you down.
2) It’s a Hit – What Now?
If you’ve earned a hit, round first with the full intention of going to second. Quickly find the ball on the field and make another decision – is the defense in control of the ball? If not, decide whether you can make it to second base and go! If the defense has the ball and is in a good position to throw you out at second, stop and return to first base. As a coach I like to say "turn and look" defense could make an error..As a coach I will help too if I see it first or see a weakness in the defense.
A good rule to follow: “Run until the defense stops you.”
3) Get a Good Lead (Open Bases) / (proper lead)
Two and a half steps or a body length), that’s a good guideline to follow when taking a lead. Keep your eyes on the pitcher and never cross over your feet – you want to be vigilant in case the pitcher makes a sudden move and you want your feet to be ready to change direction quickly. Take your lead off the back edge of the base – that increases the distance any pickoff throw must go and also makes it harder for the first baseman to tag you. Every little advantage helps including lead with your right foot not left.
4) Keep up with the Pitch
On every pitch, you should generate momentum towards the next base in a secondary lead. Think of shuffling with three hops and count them in your head – one, two, three. As the pitcher starts delivery to the plate you begin advancing towards the next base in the form of those three hops. You want your youth baseball players feet to come down on “three” just as the ball enters the strike zone. You can't start to early. Good pitchers will pick you off.
Based on what happens—a strike, a passed ball, a hit—make a decision on whether to advance or return.
5)Third Base – The Walking Base
The shuffling method of taking a secondary lead works for first and second, but when you’ve reached third base, it’s time to take a different strategy. Now you’re going to walk towards home with three steps – right, left, right, counting in your head, "one, two, three."
Just as in the shuffling secondary lead, when you get to “three,” your right foot should be coming down and the ball should be entering the strike zone. React quickly to whatever happens and focus on taking advantage of every opportunity to score.
6) When in Doubt, Slide
No matter what base you are approaching (except for first base), if there’s even a slim chance of a play, slide. Too many injuries occur because runners are indecisive. Sliding is always a safer alternative to slamming on those breaks.
And you never want to be tagged out standing up when simply sliding could have saved your team an out.
7) Don’t Let Up
You should always hustle, everything you got..but when it comes to first base and home plate, you absolutely need to run straight through those bases. Nothing feels worse than to let up on your way to first only to realize the defense has made an error on what seemed a sure out.
Your team will also be pretty upset with you if you fail to run hard through home plate, even when the defensive play may be at another base. Fail to cross home plate before the third out is recorded and your run simply doesn’t count.
Conclusion :
When looking at the square created by the base paths, as a youth baseball coach you should really picture a circular path for base runners. This saves time, increases speed, and helps prevent injuries that can occur when trying to make sharp turns at full-speed.
We see many base running errors simply because it is not practiced ..be sure to include base running and incorporate it into your youth baseball practices.
